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(N o Model.) 2 Sheetfs-Sheet Y W. B. CLARK.

GAR GOUPLING.

N0. 484,997. Patented Oct. 25, 1892.

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W. B. CLARK.

GAR GOUPLING.

N0. 484,997. Patented Oct. 25, 1892.

. y K 7 37 y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER CLARK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLARK CAR COUPLER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CARfCOUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,997, dated October 25, 1892.

Application ined May 10, 1392. serial No. 432.435. (No man.)

To all whom it may concern: the lock-pin. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views Be it known that I, VALTER B. CLARK, of of the lock-pin.

Chicago, Illinois, have invented certain new In the drawings, 7 represents the draw-head, and useful Improvements in Car-Couplers, of which is of standard construction and has 55 5 which the following is a specification. pivoted at one side of its opening the knuckle The object of my invention is to provide 8. The front end of this knuckle is of usual an improved car-conpler conformable to the construction; but its rear end is provided master car builders standard construction as with the cam-surface El, said surface presentto its general outlines and which is adapted ing a uniform incline from the bottom toward 6o to for automatic coupling by the employment the upper rear corner.

therein of a pivoted knuckle. 12 represents the lock-pin, which is ar- My invention relates more particularly to ranged in the hollow of the head at the rear, means for swinging the knuckle open; and it said pin having a beveled lower end. This consists in a peculiar construction of the lock-pin, as shown, is connected to the oper- 65 I5 knuckle and lock-pin, whereby the raising of ating-crank 14 by means of the links 15. Said the lockspiu operates, first, to unlock the lock-pin has its front edge above its bottom knuckle, and the continued raising of the pin cut away or recessed, as seen at 12, and is serves to positively move the knuckle on its provided toward its bottom witha projecting pivot, so as to open and hold it open and in cam 16, which is adapted to take under the 7o zo position to receive the knuckle of a car to be lower corner of the knuckle and to ride on coupled. the cam-surface 9 thereof.

In carrying ont my invention I provide the In the locked position of the knuckle the rear end of the knuckle with a cam-surface pin is in an inclined position, as seen in Fig. and the lock-pin with a cam and so arrange 2, and to unlock the knuckle it is raised un- 75 z5 the parts that the initial movement of the til the bottom of the pin rests upon the inlock-pin unlocks the knuckle, permitting it clined surface 17. In raising the pin its upto be pulled open in the act of uncoupling by per end rises vertically, but its lower end the separation of the cars, while the further passes from an angular to a vertical position lifting of the pin when the coupler is not enuntil it rests on the surface 17. In this posi- So go gaged with another and the engagement of tion the knuckle may be pulled open; but in its cam with the cam-surface of the knuckle order to put the knucklein condition for coupserves to open the latter to its widest extent ling without the necessity on the part of the and to hold it in such position preparatory to operator of passing between the cars the coupling. The cam-surfaces are of such conknuckle must be swung on its pivotby means 85 3 5 struction as to remain in contact throughof the unlocking mechanism until it has out the movement of the knuckle and until passed the plane of the movement of the the knuckle is open to its widest extent. This knuckle of the car to be coupled. To eect is important, for if cams are shorter the this, it is only necessary to still farther raise knuckle may only partially open and thus the lock-pin, which will then move vertically 9c 4o defeat the object in view. and in such movement its cam 16 will engage In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 the lower edge of 'the cam 9 on the knuckle, shows two members of a coupling, one in plan and as the pin must rise withoutlateral moveand the other in sectional plan. Fig. 2 shows ment and the knuckle is pivoted, the latter one of the members in side elevation and the will be forced open. Then the pin is released, 9 5

45 other in vertical section on the line 2 2 of Fig. it will drop down until it is arrested by the 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the impingement of its beveled end upon the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction inbeveled surface 17. It will remain in such dicated by the arrow. Fig. 4 is a front end position until the knuckle is swung back int0- View of one member of the coupling with the the locking position in the act of coupling, Ico

5o knuckle closed and showing a part of the end and in so doing the rear end of the knuckle of the car and an operating-crank for lifting will clear the front edge of the pin, thus allowing the latter to drop down into its original position. Y

In order to properly support the pin and to guide it in its backward movement from its locking position, I prefer to form a groove in the side of the lock-pin opposite the cam 16, said groove being marked 18 and formed in a plane parallel to the beveled end of the pin, which coincides, also, with the plane through which the lower end of the pin moves in leaving and returning toits normal position. On the side wall of the head I form the rib 19, which enters the groove 18, and thus forms a support for and insures the proper movement of the lock-pin. This feature may be omitted as the pin will assume its proper position by gravity under all ordinary conditions; but I prefer to employ it in order to insure the movement of the pin back, so as to clear the knuckle. I also prefer to cut away the vertical edge of the pin above the cam, as at l2, so as to allow the knuckle to clear without moving the pin unduly.

, The chief utility of this construction consists in the provision of the lock-pin and knuckle with the cam-surfaces described, whereby the positive opening of the knuckle to put it in condition for coupling is effected by the simple upward movement of the pin itself. The knuckle is in all cases positively moved throughout the entire distance, no reliance being placed upon the point of pivoting or the momentum imparted to the knuckle in pulling it open, and although the form of these cams may be slightly varied, and I do not therefore limit my invention precisely thereto, I regard the form shown as being the best adapted to the accomplishment of the purposes indicated.

1. In a car-coupler of the class described, the combinatiomwith a pivoted knuckle havinga downwardly inclined or beveled surface at its rear end, of a lock-pin having on its lower end a projecting cam adapted to engage the beveled surface of the knuckle and arranged within a recessed head, and said head having a beveled surface above its bottom, and the pin being adapted when the knuckle is locked to rest in an inclined position and its lower end lwhen the pin is raised passing from an oblique to a vertical position during the uncoupling movement and then to lift vertically with its cam in contact with the cam surface of the knuckle, said camsurfaces being of such construction as to remain in operative contact during the entire opening of the knuckle, substantially as described.

2. In a car-coupler of the class described, the combination, with a recessed head having an inclined seat in its rear portion above its bottom, of a pivoted knuckle the heel of which works within the recess ot' the head and is provided with a downwardly-inclined camsurface and alock-piu having on its side at yits lower end a cam adapted to engage the inclined or beveled surface of the knuckle and to stand in an inclined position when locked, said lock-pin having on its side opposite the lcam an4 inclined groove and a rib on the wall of the head to enter said groove, whereby during the initial movement of the pin in the act of uncoupling its lower end is deflected from an oblique into a vertical position, substantially as described.

3. In a car-coupler of the class described, the combination,with a recessed head having a beveled seat above its bottom and at its rear end, of a pivoted knuckle having on its heel acam-surface and a lock-pin having a projecting cam adapted to engage the cam-surface of the knuckle, said lock-pin being cut away on its vertical corner next to the knuckle and Aits lower end beveled in conformity to the beveled seat of the head, substantially as described.

WALTER B. CLARK.

W'itnesses:

C. C. LINTHICUM, FREDERICK C. GOODWIN. 

